It’s Cable vs. Bishop in a mutant royal rumble!  X-Force led by Wolverine, just jumped into the future to help Cable protect Hope, the first mutant child born after M-Day.  It may seem like the sides a little lopsided but Bishop has an ace up his sleeve.  Long time X-Men fans will be pleasantly surprised at who Bishop enlists to join his crusade.

Bishop’s character certainly is tragic.  Once an ally and X-Man, he is now convinced that Hope is responsible for a dark future for mutants.  He’s resolute that Hope must die.  Cable and the X-Men are convinced that she is the only hope for mutant survival.

Cyclops narrates and gives a succinct summary of all pertinent events.  I feel like a sucker.  I’ve paid for the last twelve issues of Cable and it was just summarized in six panels.

Mike Choi and Sonia Oback are a powerful team on the art.  There’s a dark realism that creates wartime setting.  X-Force and Cable are the more violent X-titles; Choi and Oback captures a fierceness in these characters that can sometimes be glossed over by other artists.

The last panel is a fun reveal.  This title sets the stage for the war.  However, some of the pieces feel like recycled X-stories.  There’s a danger that this will be nothing new.  I am cautious, but hopeful.

2.5 out of 5